Priest stabbed in 'bungled burglary'

An elderly Roman Catholic priest was stabbed repeatedly in a bungled burglary, police said yesterday.

Father Michael Ingwell, 71, was in bed at 11.30pm on Monday when his burglar alarm went off.

Father Michael, of St Marie's Church, Halifax, West Yorks, went to investigate but found nothing.

He was returning to his bedroom when he was attacked. He was stabbed "numerous" times in the head and body, West Yorkshire police said.

Despite being seriously injured, Father Michael called the emergency services to his terrace home, where he lived alone.

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He was taken to Calderdale Royal Infirmary. The stab wounds pierced his lungs and he is said to be in a serious but stable condition.

Det Supt Andy Brennan, leading the investigation, said yesterday: "It is possible this was a burglary that went wrong."

Police do not yet know if any property is missing from Father Michael's house or what weapon was used.

Det Supt Brennan said they were seeking an Asian man, aged about 25, clean-shaven, just under 5ft 8in tall, and wearing a dark jersey.

Father Michael is originally from Leeds and has been the priest at St Marie's for more than 10 years. The Bishop of Leeds, the Rt Rev Arthur Roche, who has known Father Michael since he was a young priest, went to visit him in hospital yesterday morning.

"It was a particularly savage attack," he said. "He's got a large number of knife wounds. Both his lungs were pierced and he's very weak."

• Three women, all in their 20s, who were in the area at the time of the attack, were arrested on Monday night and questioned by police. Det Supt Brennan said: "They are not the focus of my attention."